HHS Buys More Avian Flu Vaccine
The Department of Health and Human Services is spending another $62.5 million to buy vaccine to be used in the event of an avian influenza pandemic. HHS awarded the contract to Chiron Corp. to produce vaccine against the H5N1 influenza strain. “An influenza vaccine effective against the H5N1 virus is our best hope of protecting the American people from a virus for which they have no immunity,” Secretary Mike Leavitt said in a statement. Last month, the government awarded a $100 million contract to Sanofi Pasteur to produce a similar vaccine. HHS officials plan to buy enough H5N1 vaccine for 20 million people and enough influenza antiviral medication for an additional 20 million people. Both will become part of the Strategic National Stockpile.
Managing Finances a Challenge
Most physicians say that managing their finances will become more challenging over the next few years, according to a survey conducted by American Express. The survey was based on online interviews with 360 mostly primary care physicians and ob.gyns. in private practice. Additionally, 100 oncologists, 102 dermatologists, 100 urologists, 101 ophthalmologists, and 116 dentists in private practice were surveyed. For 83% of the survey respondents, managing the dual role of practicing medicine and running their business is a challenge. Nearly 75% said they need more financial training.
Humana Settles Class Action Suit
Humana and representatives of more than 700,000 physicians settled a nationwide class action suit that had been pending in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida for more than 6 years. The original lawsuit alleged a conspiracy between Humana and other HMOs against physicians, “to manipulate software to cheat the doctor out of getting paid money due for services rendered,” Archie Lamb, lead co-counsel for the physicians, said in an interview. Pursuant to the settlement, Humana has agreed to pay $40 million to physicians, as well as modify its software system to make it more fair and efficient for physicians—changes worth more than $75 million. “Humana should be commended for joining the growing list of health insurance companies that have settled with the nation's physicians,” Mr. Lamb said. Those companies include Aetna, Cigna, Prudential, and HealthNet.
Public Favors EHRs
Nearly three-fourths of Americans favor establishing a nationwide electronic information exchange to allow patient health records to be shared quickly among health professionals via the Internet, according to a survey of 800 adults sponsored by the Markle Foundation. However, 79% of respondents said it was important to make sure sharing could take place only after patients gave their permission. “Americans use digital information technology to pay bills, book flights, and customize the music they listen to, and our research shows they now want to use health information technology to get the best care possible for themselves,” said Zoe Baird, the foundation's president. “People realize that if they or those they love are in an accident or disaster, having their medical records available at a moment's notice through secure, electronic information exchange could mean the difference between life and death.”
Pinpointing Side Effects
In an attempt to more quickly pinpoint the potential side effects of drugs on the market, the Food and Drug Administration has contracted with several organizations to access their prescription drug data. Ingenix Inc., a unit of UnitedHealth Group Inc.; the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute; Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.; and the privately held Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Inc. each won contracts worth about $1.35 million to provide the data. Under the agreements, FDA scientists will be able to search each organization's database of medical claims and prescription drug use. The databases include information from patients enrolled in private insurance plans and state Medicaid programs. “These proactive efforts should enhance the FDA's ability to identify and assess issues and potential risks related to pharmaceutical agents in a more timely fashion than ever before,” said Terri Madison, Ph.D., president of i3 Drug Safety, which will lead the Ingenix program. In a statement, Alan Goldhammer, Ph.D., associate vice president for regulatory affairs at Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said PhRMA supported “new approaches to improving pharmacovigilance.” The group called on the CERTs (Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics) to hold a workshop on this topic.
Voters Doubt Congress on Access
Roughly two-thirds of voters think Congress has not made much progress on helping those without health insurance, and is not likely to make much more in the next 5–10 years, according to a survey of 800 likely voters sponsored by Ceasefire on Health Care, a group whose aim is to stimulate dialogue on health care between Republican and Democratic policy makers. Overall, poll respondents listed their top four health care priorities as making sure all U.S. children have access to basic health care, guaranteeing health care to every American citizen, providing better preventive health care to all Americans, and helping control the amount of out-of-pocket health care costs. About “88% of those surveyed want Congress to compromise on the issue of the uninsured,” said former Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), who is leading the group.